Has it been 4 years already?!

Accept my apologies for the lack of blog-posting going on, despite the fact that I have been doing SO much while I've been home. Part of that was sarcasm, part of it was serious. I can't believe how fast this break has gone by! I wish it would slow down a little bit!

So, anyway. Last week I met up with some old choir friends for some pizza. It was so fun to see some people who I haven't seen in years! Everyone's growing up and moving on to bigger and better things in their lives. But we still have lots of fun coming back to Flo Mo and catching up with each other. Gotta love it.

So uh... here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Cuz I know you like to stalk my life... admit it.






For today's song, I'm going to choose a song that reminds me of my senior year of high school every time I hear it... "Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

Marry Me, "Jet".

So, I got home Friday afternoon. First stop. Where else but Taco Cabana? And that night... MAVS GAME with the fam! Seriously so much fun. Watching them play in person is so much more fun than on TV. As some of you may know, I am in love with Jason "Jet" Terry. Have been since I first became a hard-core Mavs fan. And... obviously because I was there... he had a STELLAR night. He was named Player of the Game. Couldn't be more proud of my man. And to top it all off, that night was the night of the Jason Terry Collector's Cup. So yes. I will be drinking out of it for the rest of my life... or for a while anyway.

Unfortunately for my bro-in-law, he's a Suns fan... so he didn't have quite as much fun. But he loves being with his family (right, Matt?). But Kaitlin and I had a blast dancing and cheering. We were a little more rambunctious than the rest of our family, but that's to be expected. And now she has the "Mavs Fever." Good girl, Kaitlin. I've taught you well.

I have no idea what song should accompany this post. So I don't think I'm going to worry about it. Sorry. Lame, I know.

So Long, Fall Semester 2010.

Well, another end of the semester has come. I can't believe I only have one more of these left! I feel like these past four years have gone by so fast (super slow at times... but overall it's flown by). I feel like only yesterday I was walking into my first day of senior year in high school and here I am, a senior in college!!

It's been an excellent last fall semester. Lots of good things. So, I figured, what better way to pay tribute to such a great semester than to formulate a Top Ten list for Fall '10. I don't know if these are REALLY in any particular order, maybe like the top 2 or 3. So, here goes, starting with #10:

#10: Not having to move for the first time ever. Staying in the same place rocks.
#9: The night celebrating birthdays at Cheesecake and then spending time rocking out at the dueling piano bar. "Round of waters over here, please!"


#8: Finally going to see Temple Square all lit up. 4 years but I made it.
#7: Making money by having the EASIEST job ever (aka, being a TA for Intro to Ad).
#6: Becoming more domestic. Who wants to marry me?
#5: EFCs. I love EFY-Provo, Counselor Edition. It rocks.

#4: Finally having friends again. Boys, thank you for coming home and for willing to still be my friend. Even though I'm "old."
#3: Getting to meet Steve from Civil Twilight and have my picture taken with him. IN LOVE.


#2: Getting chosen as an alternate for the New York Internship Program. But most importantly, for the fact that Jeff liked my portfolio.
#1: APPLYING FOR GRADUATION!! Scary. But exciting. Bring it on Real World (not the show).

Overall, it's been an awesome semester. Definitely a good way to being my last year. I'm just so glad I've gotten to meet new people and grow closer to people I already knew. I just love you guys! Let's still be friends next semester ok? I'm going to have SEVERE Senior-itis so I might want to play all the time.

Hm... a song to go along with this post? You know what? I'm going to go SUPER cheesy and go with "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan. Because "I will remember you" Fall Semester 2010 for the rest of my life.

Kari Laine "Domestic" Ensign

Yes. That is my new name. It may be long, but it is certainly accurate. Let me explain myself.

First of all. I think that I was put on this earth to be a homemaker. Some of you (especially males) may be thinking, "Isn't that what all women were put on this earth for?" Yes. But not quite with the skill-set that I have.

First of all, our house is SUPER cute and Christmas-itized. Christmas tree and all. Thanks to yours truly.


Secondly, I have discovered how to make a fabulously delicious Beef and Cheese Enchilada Casserole that I occasionally like to feed to other people. What? You'd like the recipe? Ok. If you insist. It's REALLY easy.

All you need is:

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cans (10 oz. each) of red enchilada sauce (I would buy a little more than this. With only 20 oz. it can get a little dry.)
7 oz. of chopped green chiles
24 small corn tortillas (I use white but the recipe calls for yellow)
3 c. of shredded cheese

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a glass casserole dish (I use my 9x11 Pyrex).
2. Brown the beef. Then add in one 10 oz. can of enchilada sauce and the green chiles. Stir it up.
3. Pour half of the other can of enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of the casserole dish. Then place 8 tortillas over the sauce. On top of the tortillas, pour half of the meat mixture and cover with some cheese. Repeat the tortilla, meat, cheese layer one more time. On top of the second layer, put 8 more tortillas. Then pour the remaining enchilada sauce on top.
4. Cover it with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Or until it's bubbling around the edges.
5. Take it out and sprinkle some more cheese to cover the top. Stick it back in for another 5 minutes or so.

Then just serve it with some sour cream and eat it up. It is seriously so easy and it tastes delicious. And I always have PLENTY left over.

Like I said guys. I'm domestic.

"I have really good Christmas music."

Remember how I said that one of my goals was to FINALLY visit Temple Square all lit up this year? Well, I did it! It only took me four years but hey, the point is that I got there, right? It was absolutely beautiful. And Mary and I shared a very special moment. Yes, probably I won't get married before I leave this blessed university that is BYU, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and proposed to Mary in Temple Square. It was a magical moment that Helen and Heather were there to witness.


On the way back from Salt Lake, Heather satisfied our ears with her "really good Christmas music." Seriously guys. You thought that Christmas music was Christmas music was Christmas music. No, you're wrong. Heather has the best Christmas music.

Basically you should be jealous of our adventure. I would put up a new song but I just put up new Christmas music for you to listen to so consider those my songs for the blog post.

Oh, also. Only 6 days until I'm home in Texas. Solid.

Man, It's Been a While...

I'm sorry for all of my dedicated followers who have been upset by the lack of updating going on with my blog. I guess I just haven't had things I've felt the need to write about!

I will share some exciting news with you all though. I received some validation from one of my professors yesterday that made me feel like I really did choose the right major. And that's a really good feeling to have right now considering next semester is my last one here at BYU.

Basically he told me that he liked my portfolio that I submitted for the New York Internship program but that because of the limited 6 spots for management students, I would probably be an alternate. Which quite frankly, I didn't even hear because I was just so excited that he liked my portfolio! He also told me they would definitely be able to find me a good internship regardless and then continued to congratulate me for doing such a great job on our midterm project.

Needless to say... I was floating on Cloud Nine afterwards. It's nice to know that what you've chosen to do is something you're actually good at. It gives me a little less anxiety about growing up and going out into the real world although I definitely still have frequent freak-outs about growing up. Trust me.

So, there's my update! Hopefully there will be more exciting things for me to post within the next couple of weeks. I'm sorry my life has been so boring lately.

For the song for this post... I'm going to share something with you that has absolutely nothing to do with the post. My friend Hayley shared this video with me. Basically it's all about how my name is Kari and I'm beautiful. It made my day.